Samantha Nadler, a suicide-attempt survivor and crisis line manager, says saving a life can be as easy as recognizing danger points. / Samuel M. Simpkins / The Tennessean

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To dial the hotlines

• 615-244-7444 is the number for the Crisis Intervention Center in Nashville. • 1-800-273-8255 offers assistance in all areas through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

To seek helpTalking to a counselor or physician can help someone confront the issues that spur suicidal thoughts. Medications and other therapies can help.

To read the reportThe Status of Suicide in Tennessee is available at tspn.org.

Suicide facts

Most at riskMen ages 45-60 account for the largest number of suicides in state. Suicide rates for men are generally four times greater than for women in Tennessee.

Youth suicide remains a problemSuicide is the third-leading cause of death for people 10 to 19 years old. Thirty-two people in this age group took their lives in 2011.

Beware of firearms63% of the suicides that occurred in Tennessee between 2007 and 2011 involved firearms. Firearms were the preferred method for both men and women.

Watch for warningsBe alert to comments about suicide or wishing to be dead, as well as changes in appearance, behavior and eating habits. People at risk for suicide also lose interest in their normal activities.

Spring deadlier than winterWhile people may suffer from winter doldrums, the incidence of suicide actually increases in the spring when the weather turns warmer.

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As a suicide-attempt survivor and crisis line manager, Samantha Nadler realizes people are reluctant to talk about a public health problem that results in more than 900 deaths a year in Tennessee.

But saving a life could be as easy as recognizing danger points and keeping hotline numbers handy.

“The biggest thing I have learned, regardless of whether it is a one-time occurrence or this is happening more than once in your life, it is still a moment that will pass,” said Nadler, supervisor of the Crisis Intervention Center in Nashville.

The state’s suicide rate was 14.8 per 100,000 people — 19 percent higher than the national rate, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We hope this report will inspire you to join us in the ongoing effort to make zero suicides not just an objective, but a reality for the people of Tennessee,” said Scott Ridgway, who heads the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.